Doc Searls Weblog

Just trying to make stuff happen

Erring on the side of caution

A few hours ago, as I was getting ready to get the kid to bed, the pain in my chest returned. Concerned that another blood clot might be involved, I imposed on Nicco to give me another ride over to the hospital, where at length a fresh CAT scan showed the same clot in the same place. Nothing new.

Still, they told me I did the Right Thing. Guess so.

Left me even more wasted though. As Nicco put it in the car on the way back, I’m probably not as “good” as I feel. (Which is okay, aside from the chest pains.)

Anyway, now it’s 3am and maybe I can finally (well, for tonight anyway… that adverb creeps me) get some sleep.

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Doc Searls

13 responses to “Erring on the side of caution”

  1. Stephen Lewis Avatar
    Stephen Lewis

    Sleep well. And take it easy these next days! Even those of us who are dependent on your efforts prefer that you build the reserves and health to be with us for a long, long time than squander these on day-to-day tasks. And … if these words are too simple, think of it within the context of our conversations on infrastructure, i.e. the importance of long-term investment over short-term disinvestment. SL

    Reply
  2. Tim Avatar
    Tim

    Thinking of you and sending healing thoughts.

    Reply
  3. Paul Downey Avatar
    Paul Downey

    crumbs Doc! Hope you’re feeling better and back on top form soon!

    Reply
  4. Fritz Avatar
    Fritz

    Doc—sleep well, rest and take it easy for awhile, OK? You the man! Everybody in Juneau is rooting for you to get back and healthy again…we’ll gladly put up with some blog silence for awhile…get some rest!

    Reply
  5. Rob Paterson Avatar
    Rob Paterson

    Please take care Doc – Huge virtual hug on its way
    Rob

    Reply
  6. Morrie Avatar
    Morrie

    Doc, I’m just a regular reader, no-one or nothing special, but wanted to wish you a speedy recovery. As you’ve alluded, your clot may have something to do with deep vein thrombosis, considering all the travel you do. Anyway mate, take it easy, deep breaths, and keep smiling at the world, and the fact that you’re still here.

    Reply
  7. mary hodder Avatar
    mary hodder

    Doc,
    you know when 1001 sent your photo uploades to me earlier and i saw airplane shots, i got really worried. Then i saw the dates: 3/24.

    Pls stay off airplanes for a while. Clots and airplanes don’t mix. Sorry for the bad pun of opposites. Since clots don’t mix by definition.

    Glad you are okay though and it’s not worse. And glad Nicco is there. He’s a good guy.

    m

    Reply
  8. Darwin Weyh Avatar
    Darwin Weyh

    I had a minor heart attack on March 7th. Now every time I have a bubble I go “oh sh*& here we go again”.

    Glad your doing well Doc.

    Reply
  9. francine hardaway Avatar
    francine hardaway

    You have confronted your mortality. That has a psychological effect that circles back and produces symptoms that you are now preternaturally aware of. Chill out. And get a second opinion.

    Reply
  10. Doc Searls Avatar
    Doc Searls

    Thanks, Francine.

    You’re right, and I appreciate the observation about psychological effects. My challenge right now is telling the difference between understandable but useless fear of sitting down, and simple avoidance of Work That Needs To Be Done. The latter includes the usual sort, plus exercise and other sensible health practices.

    And yes, I am getting second, third, fourth and fifth opinions (so far). And that’s just counting the MDs.

    Reply
  11. Doc Searls Avatar
    Doc Searls

    Mary, what causes clots on airplanes is sitting still for too long with pressure on the backs of thighs. Changes in pressure, I am told, are not the issue. The problem for me is that I do that at my desk as well, and for even longer periods than when flying. And when I’m flying I always make the effort to get up and move around. My bladder commands it in any case. Also, these days, except on short flights, I am usually in business class: a grace of too-frequent flying. That makes ambulation easier as well.

    That last flight was a brief one, in which I did not sit still on the seat. My own instinct tells me that the clot was sitting in my leg already, and that playing basketball on Saturday afternoon got it to move.

    It is perhaps significant, though, that I first felt symptoms on Saturday evening, while driving. That is, sitting down. Hence my fear of the same.

    Reply
  12. jeneane Avatar
    jeneane

    I always thought working on my computer lying down was a bad idea now I wonder. Still I thought at the time it might be partly the reason for my gallbladder debacle last year. Things kind of stay still when you type in the prone position most of the day. Chris once said of the way we work that ‘death by bad posture’ probably isn’t an exaggeration. Doc, you’ve done a really kind thing for all of us talking about this stuff, when I’m sure you’ve got a full mind of real-world dealings right now in the wake of this pretty major health event. Thanks for pointing out that something as simple as walking can counteract bad habits. Like you, my general mania has always made walking seem to dull. But dull beats the hospital any day.

    Reply
  13. Matt Cutts Avatar
    Matt Cutts

    I would say to pick a favorite, relaxing book and then re-read it. Hope you’re feeling better soon.

    Reply

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